as in plump
having an excess of body fat
in America, Santa Claus is portrayed as a jolly but tubby older gentleman
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tubby
It is sold in a curious short and tubby bottle with an original label with an old man with wispy hair and a long beard.
—
Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
The structure is like a planetary system with its multiple characters and fascinating satellites: his best friend Ruprecht, a tubby genius; Lori, his unrequited love; Carl the psychopath; Howard the Coward; Father Green a.k.a.
—Tomi Obaro, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
Colin Farrell’s Penguin Is Different From The Comics The original Batman villains were mostly made up of gangsters, and the Penguin first appeared in the early 40’s as a tubby man in a tuxedo and monocle, wielding a variety of gadgets inside his iconic umbrella.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Heavy, ample, plump, tubby—these might as well be curse words.
—TIME, 2 Feb. 2024
This gives it the slight grace of a drawer without sacrificing the functionality of a big tubby bin.
—Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 17 Aug. 2023
After a long day of tail wagging, tubby rubbing, and shoe chewing, your dog deserves a comfortable place to rest.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2023
The 65-minute family show sees A.A. Milne‘s tubby little cubby brought to life along with his furry friends.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2023
These spirits, or at least the pair of figurines representing them, were too tubby to fit through the door to their new spirit house at the Baan Pitak condominium in Bangkok.
—Adam Dean, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2020
Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
The structure is like a planetary system with its multiple characters and fascinating satellites: his best friend Ruprecht, a tubby genius; Lori, his unrequited love; Carl the psychopath; Howard the Coward; Father Green a.k.a.
—Tomi Obaro, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
Colin Farrell’s Penguin Is Different From The Comics The original Batman villains were mostly made up of gangsters, and the Penguin first appeared in the early 40’s as a tubby man in a tuxedo and monocle, wielding a variety of gadgets inside his iconic umbrella.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Heavy, ample, plump, tubby—these might as well be curse words.
—TIME, 2 Feb. 2024
This gives it the slight grace of a drawer without sacrificing the functionality of a big tubby bin.
—Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 17 Aug. 2023
After a long day of tail wagging, tubby rubbing, and shoe chewing, your dog deserves a comfortable place to rest.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2023
The 65-minute family show sees A.A. Milne‘s tubby little cubby brought to life along with his furry friends.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2023
These spirits, or at least the pair of figurines representing them, were too tubby to fit through the door to their new spirit house at the Baan Pitak condominium in Bangkok.
—Adam Dean, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tubby
Adjective
-
Beckham Hotel Collection Queen Pillows Encased with a cotton cover and made from a down alternative filling, the pillows have a plump loft that feels like a wonderful combination of soft and slightly firm.—
Lindsey Greenfeld,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The set includes 18 pairs of eye masks to moisturize, freshen, plump, and brighten your skin.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Some recent research into low-carb, higher-fat diets like the carnivore diet shows potential improvement in markers for cardiovascular health.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Any Hollywood bigshot with her bank account might choose to spend their fat paychecks on luxury cars, 10-bedroom mansions, and cushy private jets.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
To end her portion of the show, Swift sat at a round table with Fallon who asked about the inspiration behind some of her tracks.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
-
This is what the round red pinhole is for—simply hold it up to one of your eyes and look through it, scanning the room for a glowing red light.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tubby. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share